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Knave of Diamonds: P.13064-R(50)

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Knave of Diamonds
Marlborough and his Times

Maker(s)

Printmaker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

An allegorical scene with three figures; two sparring (England and France); the third labelled 'D' apparently represents the Duke of Marlborough who grovels on the floor to gather coins spilled from a bag.
From a complete pack of 52 playing-cards commemorating the victories of the Duke of Marlborough in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714). Spades satirise the French and Spanish enemy, the other three suits represent scenes from the campaigns, mostly in the Netherlands, also in Spain and Belgium; the aces, court and some numeral cards are portraits or satirical or allegorical scenes.
A museum catalogue card is included with the pack and pasted with a printed cutting from a sale catalogue, which has been crossed out in graphite: 'CARDS, A Pack of 52 Curious old Engraved Cards / representing Humourous and Comical Scenes, Military / Portraits of Blucher, Wellington, etc. National Emblematic Figures etc. engraved by L. OSIANDER, scarce'. A graphite inscription written on the card below: 'Pack of 52 line-engraved cards, of historical scenes & personages relating to the War of the Spanish Succession.'. The verso is blank.
The pack of cards and catalogue card are contained inside a folded manilla envelope inscribed in ink in a calligraphic hand: 'Marlborough's Victories / A pack of 52 cards / Reproduced in _Playing Cards [of various ages and countries] / selected from the collection of Lady Charlotte Schreiber_, Vol. 1, plates / 35-38 / See also _BM Satires_, vol. II / nos. 1342-4, 1429, 1435, 1452, 1461, 1491, 1492, 1543, 1544, 1557, / 1560-5, 1576, 1585'.

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1923) by Perceval, Spencer George

Dating

18th Century
Production date: circa AD 1715 : Another set: BM 1841,0508.4-55 is dated 1710-1725.

School or Style

British

Components of the work

Sheet Height 91 mm Width 60 mm

Materials used in production

Pasteboard

Techniques used in production

Engraving
Etching

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Every one what he Loves
  • Location: Plate lower centre
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Inscription

Inscription present: in a speech bubble spoken by 'F' (France)

  • Text: Ambition
  • Location: Plate upper left
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Inscription

Inscription present: in a speech bubble spoken by 'E' (England)

  • Text: Liberty
  • Location: Plate upper right
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Inscription

Inscription present: in a speech bubble spoken by 'D' (the Duke of Marlborough)

  • Text: Money
  • Location: Plate centre
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Inscription

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.13064-R(50)
Primary reference Number: 186305
Stephens/George: 1544
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Wednesday 7 March 2012 Updated: Monday 2 October 2023 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Knave of Diamonds" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/186305 Accessed: 2024-03-28 14:01:24

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/186305 |title=Knave of Diamonds |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-03-28 14:01:24|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-186305

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